Today’s world requires us to accept the oneness of humanity. In the past isolated communities could afford to think of one another as fundamentally separate. Some could even exist in total isolation. But today, whatever happens in one region eventually affects many other areas. In the context of our new interdependence, self-interest clearly lies in considering the interest of others.
Many of the world’s problems and conflicts arise because we have lost sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together as a human family. We tend to forget that despite the diversity of race, religion, ideology, and so forth, people are equal in their basic wish for peace and happiness.
The challenge before us, therefore, is to make our new century a century of dialogue and of peaceful coexistence. In human societies there will always differences of views and interests. But, the reality today is that we are all interdependent and have to coexist on this small planet. Therefore, the only sensible and intelligent way of resolving differences and clashes of interests, whether between individuals or nations, is through dialogue.–Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama.
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peacemakers, oneness, dalai lama, interdependence
Nice piece! I just posted on the need for a certain perspective in religious dialogue.